Alternative facts and Native American wisdom

Monday, February 20, 2017

Dear Editor,

Over 150 years ago, an American Indian named Worm shared some Sioux wisdom with his teenage son Crazy Horse. " One does not go to a hill top for water or to a white man for the truth". This quote comes from the book (Crazy Horse) written by Mari Sandoz in 1942. From another source, I remember a quote attributed to Chief Sitting Bull.

While negotiating treaties in the 1860s, he told one of the soldiers "If you can find ONE honest man in Washington D.C., send him to me and I will talk to him."

With the current political climate, it doesn't seem that we have progressed very much in this regard. What's with the fake news, alternative facts, outright lies, and blaming the media when some folks get caught?

I'm assuming that this rhetoric will escalate from dishonest media, VERY dishonest press, right up to criminal press and on to "Lock 'em up!"

During these turbulent times, we need a free press more than ever. I doubt that we would have learned about the Flynn/Russia fiasco without the hard-working professionals at the Washington Post.

As U.S. citizens, we have an obligation to support our free press as it sorts out the "doublespeak" and outright lies coming from some our leaders.

The Sioux Indian tribes placed a high value on truth-telling. We should strive for that same goal.